Switching From Amsoil to ??? Need Advice

ICD · 10-29-2004, 02:04 PM

The PO of my 944S2 ran Amsoil in it. It is time to change oil and I need advice on what to run. I live in Minnesota and the car will be stored unless we get a dry winter, even then it would only be used a few times.

What oil should I switch to? Mobile 1? Or should I go back to regular oil?

Also, what weight oil should I run?

David

UconnTim97 · UconnTim97's Garage

I use Mobil 1 15w50, and have had no problems with it.

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

You'll get as many answers as there are oils.

I run Mobil 1 10w40 myself... its low carb and prevents tooth decay.

I read somewhere to use whatever the previous owner used. Sounded pretty reasonable.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

the concensus seems to be some variety of Mobil1

nynor · 10-29-2004, 05:20 PM

stick with the amsoil.

..P · 10-29-2004, 08:55 PM

You can thank the PO for using Amsoil. It's about as good an oil you will find at "any" price. The Amsoil web page has all the data, and their Series 2000 oil is the top of the line, unless you're using a turbo, and then their Turbo Formulated 10W30 is the ticket.

If you absolutely must change, trying to save $20, then I'd go with the Mobil-1 15W50 or bump down a hair to the next 10W40. They're both good oil, but Amsoil beats everyone on "wear factor" time and time again.

Regards, P

nynor · 10-29-2004, 09:27 PM

amen, brother... i have my 944 and a discovery on amsoil: no problems.

AFJuvat · 10-30-2004, 07:18 AM

Ahhh the "cult of amsoil" strikes again..

I think ..P owns stock or is a sales rep.

AFJuvat

ae1969 · 10-30-2004, 08:21 AM

Hey long time no see ..P How are things.....

I have seen a number of engines running dyno oil with no ill fated repercusions? The two 944's I have both have well over 200K....and the bores looked nice and clean (and compression was great)

Synthetic is a beautifull thing but I think when it comes to oil keep it simple.

Two things to follow.

1. Change it.
2. Use the proper weight for your area/car/application.

nynor · 10-30-2004, 09:41 AM

i bow to the amsoil gods and my engines drink their nectar.

sasquatch · 10-30-2004, 10:43 AM

Personal opinion follows:

Amsoil is probably a small notch better than Mobil 1. But, (big but too), most mere mortal engines will probably never notice the difference. It would be nice to find truly independant testing of oils. But you never do. All the ones on the Amsoil web pages are all sponsored by Amsoil.

I would love to see one of the magazines come out and do a true test of different oils. Long term, dyno, street, strip, tear down, fuel economy, etc. Why it does not happen is probably a conspiracy theory. If X magazine comes out and proves that Y oil is a bunch of crap, they will probably get sued out of business by Y oil company, along with loosing all the advertising budgets.

My thing againsed Amsoil is this. I travel quite a bit, and if I need a quart of oil, in BFE, I can always find Mobil 1. Never Amsoil. I refuse to mix oils, so this is important to me.

My fleet of cars and motorcycles gets one of two oils, Mobil 1 or Chevron Delo 400.

nynor · 10-30-2004, 12:40 PM

i keep a spare two quarts with me at all times, especially in the discovery, as i abuse it off road often.

hoff944 · 10-30-2004, 01:25 PM

I live in TN and use Mobile 15 50 year round. My car has had nothing but that for about 10 years.

SlowToady · 10-30-2004, 08:25 PM

The problem though with dyno oils is that they contain parafin and other junk that comes with being gotten from the ground. From what I've heard, Pennzoil is the worst in this regard--highest parafin content. The bores may look clean, but what about the rest of the engine? Lifter valleys? Doesn't all that junk build up in the oil pan other places? All that crap helps to conceal wearing gaskets for a bit longer by filling it in with sludge, which is why some people have leak problem when they make the switch to synthetic on a higher mileage or worn engine.

My engine has ALWAYS run Mobil 1 Synthetic, except when it got Pennzoil Synthetic on the last one (the first one I did). I didn't have any monet at the time, and you can't argue with 6 quarts of Synthetic for $10. My shop is switching to Mobil/Mobil 1 shorty, so I'll be getting the same deal on that. In a month or two, it's back to Mobil 1.

Occasionally, you really do get what you pay for, and I think that oil is one arena where that holds true.

On a side note, some of you mentioned running 15w50; how well does the car start up/run with that? That's thicker than diesel oil, which is typically 15w40...I can hardly imagaine running that in the 944. I personally stick with 10w30 year round. Are leaky gaskets a part of the reason some people are running such thick oil? I know a guy that runs straight 50 in his SR20DET powered built Sentra--that's some _thick_ oil.

AFJuvat · 10-30-2004, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowToady
...On a side note, some of you mentioned running 15w50; how well does the car start up/run with that? That's thicker than diesel oil, which is typically 15w40...I can hardly imagaine running that in the 944.

As stated, it really depends on where you are. Here in FL, where temps are still 80+ and rarely get below 50 degrees, 15W50 is fine.

Up north, I wouldn't run anything heavier than 10W30

All Porsche since 2002 come with 0W40

AFJuvat

Zero10 · 10-30-2004, 11:04 PM

Quote:

All Porsche since 2002 come with 0W40

However, they are also new engines. On older, more worn-out engines like ours, I think you would see very low oil pressure on 0W40. Although, I'm sure it starts wonderfully in the cold. If my rod bearings weren't so worn out, I would run 0W30 in the winter here.

ICD · 10-31-2004, 04:51 AM

Where can I buy the Amsoil in Minneapolis area?

nynor · 10-31-2004, 09:42 AM

just buy the stuff online. cost nearly the same if you buy it locally. if you look in your business white pages under amsoil, you will probably find a couple of distributors. also, i believe you can find a dealer directory on their web page. i sincerely believe this stuff to be the best oil i've ever used. i am running it in my '77 triumph bonneville cafe racer, engine and trans. runs like a champ.

www.amsoil.com

nynor · 10-31-2004, 09:48 AM

one more thing, and this is what sold me on amsoil: http://aardvark.co.nz/pjet/turbine1.htm

he states that he NO wear on the turbine bearings with it running at 120K RPM's and some terribly high temperatures. he also has a comparison to the wear, etc., compared to Mobil 1.

yeah, i am a believer... just try it for yourself and then kiss mobil 1 goodbye.

divezic · divezic's Garage

Mobil 1 0W40 for winter use. 10W40 or 15W50 for summer. This is for "street" driving.